Just Easy Living Up to Her Name for James Geddes

By Rob Courtney

Just Easy in blissful isolation as she breaks maidens last weekend at Rangiora

After knocking on the door with placings in her first three starts, the well-bred Just Easy broke through in style at Rangiora on April 27. The now five-year-old mare justified her favouritism in a 2600m non-winners trot, taking over the lead with a lap to go and cruising home under the guidance of part-owner and trainer James Geddes.

“She’s been quite headstrong at times and has taken a bit of making,” Geddes admitted. Much of the early groundwork, he says, is owed to good friend and fellow Canterbury trainer Jamie Gameson, who handled her first couple of preparations.

By The Pres, Just Easy is the third foal out of Geddes’ former racemare Dixie Commando, a tough and talented trotter who won seven races and placed 22 times over six seasons, banking over $77,000.

“Dixie was such a nice mare that I always had confidence she’d leave a good one,” Geddes said.

Her first two foals by Majestic Son didn’t amount to much, but things are trending upward now. Just Easy looks to have plenty more in store, and her younger half-brother — a colt by homebred stallion Carlton (Dream Vacation – Love You mare) — is showing promise in early education, again under the watchful eye of Jamie Gameson.

JUST EASY | RANGIORA REPLAY

The Geddes family name has been woven into New Zealand harness racing for over a century, with James proudly recalling his great-grandfather winning races back in the 1890s. Though their primary occupation has long been Canterbury dairy farming — currently milking 700 cows — the horses have remained close to their hearts and daily routine.

That passion led Jim Geddes (James’ father) to the 2002 Yearling Sales, where he purchased Galleon’s Tribute (Sundon – Tabella Robyn). While she never made it to the races herself, she more than justified her purchase as a broodmare. A half-sister to Rob The Nest (6 wins), she became the matriarch of a remarkable branch of the breed.
Rob The Nest’s daughters and granddaughters have gone on to produce some of the best trotters New Zealand has seen in recent decades, including:

– Thedonsson (9 wins)
– Galleon’s Assassin (13 wins, G1 winner)
– King Of Strathfield (21 NZ wins)
– Whosinthenest (7 wins), dam of Temporale (27 wins, $832,000+, multiple G1 winner)
– Mybrotherwasastar, dam of Wilma’s Mate (14 wins, $348,000+, G1 winner)
– And Australian G1 winner Amour De Frere (by Love You)

This is a family that has long been prized by commercial breeders, with major players like Yabby Dam Farms in Australia investing heavily into its bloodlines.

Delving further into the pedigree reveals even deeper gems. Galleon’s Tribute’s dam, Tabella Robyn, was by champion sire Game Pride from Robyn Evander, herself a daughter of Great Evander and Mount Dora. That made her a half-sister to Mountain Pride (13 wins) and several other standout ‘Mountain’ trotters raced by legendary northern trainer Jim Smith.

Co bred, trained, owned and driven. James Geddes visibly chuffed with the result!

And let’s not forget Kadabra — the three-win Kiwi trotter out of Robyn Galleon (Sundon – Tabella Robyn) who went on to win nearly $2 million in North America, clocking 1:51.6 in the process.

It’s a pedigree dripping with quality, performance, and enduring influence — and Just Easy is just the latest to carry the flag forward.

While Galleon’s Tribute didn’t reach the track, she did produce the durable warhorse Sod’s Law (15 wins, 24 placings, $158,000). Now 11, his future remains undecided as Geddes weighs up whether to bring him back for another campaign.

For now, he has four in work, along with four promising youngsters in early training — a sign that the Geddes stable remains a quietly potent force.

As for Just Easy, she’s shown more than enough in her first four starts to suggest there’s more in the tank.
With a foundation like hers, don’t be surprised if the wins keep coming — and this historic family continues to deliver for generations to come.